Botox is the brand name for one of several botulinum toxin type A products used to temporarily relax targeted muscles. Made by AbbVie (originally Allergan), it was the first botulinum toxin brand widely adopted in aesthetics and remains the best known. By briefly blocking the nerve signals that make muscles contract, Botox softens the dynamic wrinkles created by repeated facial expressions—and it is also used to treat a range of medical conditions.
At a glance
- Brand of: Botulinum toxin type A (active ingredient onabotulinumtoxinA)
- Made by: AbbVie (formerly Allergan)
- Type: Prescription injectable (Health Canada Schedule D)
- Common cosmetic areas: Frown lines (glabella), forehead lines, crow’s feet
- Onset & duration: Begins within days, develops over about 2 weeks, lasts roughly 3–4 months
- Key point: “Botox” is one specific brand—its units are not interchangeable with Dysport, Xeomin or other products
What is Botox?
Botox is a registered brand name owned by AbbVie for a purified botulinum toxin type A preparation whose active ingredient is onabotulinumtoxinA, derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.[1] It is a prescription medicine (Health Canada Schedule D) and has been marketed in Canada since 2001.[2] Because it was the original product of its kind, “Botox” is often used casually to mean any anti-wrinkle injection—but it is one specific brand among several, not a generic term.
How Botox relates to botulinum toxin type A
Botox is one brand within the larger family of botulinum toxin type A products, which also includes Dysport, Xeomin, Nuceiva and Daxxify. They share the same basic action: the toxin temporarily blocks the release of acetylcholine, the chemical signal that tells a muscle to contract, so the treated muscle relaxes.[3][4] For the full science of how this works at the neuromuscular junction, see our entry on botulinum toxin type A.
What Botox is used for
In aesthetics, Botox Cosmetic is Health Canada–authorized to soften upper-face lines—frown lines between the brows (the glabella), forehead lines and lateral canthal lines (crow’s feet)—as well as vertical bands of the neck.[1] Because it works by reducing movement, it is best suited to dynamic wrinkles that appear with expression, rather than lines already etched into the skin at rest. Beyond cosmetics, botulinum toxin is also used medically for conditions such as chronic migraine, excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) and certain muscle disorders.[4]
Botox vs Dysport vs Xeomin
All of these are botulinum toxin type A, but they are distinct products with different active designations: Botox is onabotulinumtoxinA, Dysport is abobotulinumtoxinA, and Xeomin is incobotulinumtoxinA.[3] They differ in formulation—Xeomin, for example, is a “naked” toxin without the accompanying complexing proteins—and, importantly, their dosing units are not interchangeable. The Canadian monograph is explicit that the “Allergan Units” used to measure Botox cannot be converted to the units of any other product.[1][4] A practitioner chooses among them based on the treatment area, the desired result and clinical experience.
What to expect: onset and duration
After treatment, the effect typically begins within a few days and develops fully over about two weeks.[3] Results generally last three to four months, after which the nerve endings recover and movement gradually returns; the monograph advises retreating no more often than every three months.[1][4] Because the effect is temporary, maintaining a result means repeating treatment over time rather than a one-time fix.
Is Botox safe, and who should administer it?
Botox is a prescription medicine and should be administered only by a qualified, trained healthcare professional.[1] Common and temporary side effects can include mild bruising, headache or—if the toxin spreads to nearby muscles—a temporary drooping of the brow or eyelid. A careful assessment matters, because the dose and the injection points must be tailored to each person’s anatomy and goals. This entry is educational and does not replace a consultation with a licensed clinician.
Botox in Canada: authorization and the trademark
In Canada, Botox and Botox Cosmetic are authorized by Health Canada as prescription (Schedule D) products and are listed in the Drug Product Database.[2] As with all prescription drugs in Canada, there are restrictions on how these products may be advertised to the public. Botox® is a registered trademark of AbbVie, and the name properly refers to that specific product rather than to botulinum toxin injections in general.
Related glossary terms
Clinical & editorial sources
- AbbVie Corporation. BOTOX COSMETIC (onabotulinumtoxinA) Product Monograph. Health Canada–authorized labelling. abbvie.ca
- Health Canada. Drug Product Database: BOTOX COSMETIC (onabotulinumtoxinA). Government of Canada. canada.ca
- DermNet. Botulinum toxin. DermNet (New Zealand). dermnetnz.org
- Padda IS, Tadi P. Botulinum Toxin. StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; updated 2023 Nov 6. NBK557387
This glossary entry provides general educational information and does not replace an individual clinical assessment or medical advice.
Clinically reviewed by: Leah Zawawi, RPN | Medical Aesthetics & Injectables.
Last reviewed: August 2026.